"Too Sweet" is a song by Irish singer-songwriter Hozier. It was released on 22 March 2024, through Rubyworks and Island Records in the UK, and Columbia Records in the US, as the first track from his fifth EP Unheard and was released as a single on 29 March 2024. The song has topped the charts in Australia, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom and the United States, becoming Hozier's first number-one single in all seven countries.

"Too Sweet"
Single by Hozier
from the EP Unheard
Released22 March 2024 (2024-03-22)
Genre
Length4:11
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Hozier
  • Bekon
  • Chakra
  • Sergiu Gherman
  • Peter Gonzales
Hozier singles chronology
"Northern Attitude"
(2023)
"Too Sweet"
(2024)
"Nobody's Soldier"
(2024)
Music video
"Too Sweet" on YouTube

Background

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On 14 March 2024, Hozier announced his fifth EP Unheard that features four previously unreleased tracks taken from sessions for his third studio album Unreal Unearth (2023).[3] The singer clarified that the songs "could not make the original release" for various reasons, but still fit the themes of "gluttony, limbo, violence and the outward 'ascent'".[4] He first teased the song the same day on TikTok in a clip that features him drawing a sketch of a skeleton.[5] "Too Sweet" was surprise-released as the opening track to the project on 22 March.[6]

Composition

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"Too Sweet" sees Hozier meeting the "rhythm of a true night owl", sipping whiskey and drinking black coffee.[5] Additionally, it shows the facets and multitudes of a relationship, as the singer talks to his significant other. While she prefers to lead a healthy lifestyle, he makes use of the various "pleasures" of life. The singer favours the rawness because his partner is "already too sweet". The song further explores the theme of how differences can evolve during a relationship.[7] Musically, Rolling Stone writer John Lonsdale described the song as "tough, catchy retro-R&B groove."[8]

Commercial performance

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"Too Sweet" debuted at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart on 29 March 2024, earning Hozier his first top-ten single in the United Kingdom since "Take Me to Church" in 2014 and second overall.[9] It rose to number 4 on 5 April 2024.[10] On 12 April 2024, it reached Number 1 with 61,000 chart units and 6.7 million streams, becoming Hozier's first UK number one single.[11]

In the United States, "Too Sweet" debuted at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of 6 April 2024, marking Hozier's first top 10 debut and second top 10 after "Take Me to Church".[12] Three weeks later, the song reached number one, surpassing the number two peak of "Take Me to Church" and becoming Hozier's first number-one in the United States.[13] With this, Hozier became the first Irish act to top the Billboard Hot 100 since Sinéad O'Connor in 1990 with "Nothing Compares 2 U", and fourth overall along with O'Connor, Gilbert O'Sullivan and U2.[14]

Charts

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Certifications

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Certifications for "Too Sweet"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[101] 2× Platinum 140,000
Austria (IFPI Austria)[102] Platinum 30,000
Belgium (BEA)[103] Platinum 40,000
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[104] Gold 45,000
France (SNEP)[105] Platinum 200,000
Italy (FIMI)[106] Gold 50,000
Netherlands (NVPI)[107] Gold 46,500
New Zealand (RMNZ)[108] 3× Platinum 90,000
Poland (ZPAV)[109] 2× Platinum 100,000
Portugal (AFP)[110] Platinum 10,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[111] Gold 30,000
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[112] Platinum 20,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[113] 2× Platinum 1,200,000
United States (RIAA)[114] 2× Platinum 2,000,000
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[115] Platinum 2,000,000
Sweden (GLF)[116] Platinum 12,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Release dates and format(s) for "Too Sweet"
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Italy 29 March 2024 Radio airplay Universal [117]

References

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